Joani Reid, the Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, has resigned the party whip after her husband David Taylor was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Reid announced her decision on Thursday evening, stating she would temporarily stand down while an internal Labour investigation is carried out.
Taylor, a former special adviser to Labour peer Peter Hain, was arrested on Wednesday under the National Security Act alongside two other men aged 43 and 68. All three were released on bail until May, police confirmed. Taylor has also been suspended from the Labour party pending an investigation.
In a statement, Reid said: 'This week has been the worst of my life. I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been made against me. I have done nothing wrong.' She added that she did not want the situation to distract from the government and voluntarily suspended herself from the whip.
The arrests follow a previous case six months ago where charges against two men accused of spying for China were dropped. The developments have put pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced criticism over his decision to visit China in January and for allowing plans for a Chinese 'mega-embassy' near the City of London.
As part of the investigation, police also raided the homes of a journalist in Wales and a former Labour aide. Martin Shipton, associate editor at Nation Cymru, described the raid as a 'Kafkaesque nightmare'. Reid reiterated that she has never been to China, spoken on China-related matters in Parliament, or met Chinese diplomats or businesses as an MP.
